Zhao Bihua held onto Du Zhao's hand and walked slowly back.

  Dong Zhao asked Zhao Bi Ru: "What is my favorite food?"

  Zhaobi Ru was stunned, but still said very gently: "As long as it's sweet and crispy, you like to eat it!"

  "Then when was it that you last came to our home?"

  Zhao Bi Ru looked at Dou Zhao's eyes with even more astonishment: "The day before the beginning of winter. Father asked my sister and me to come ask Auntie if Uncle had returned. We took the opportunity to give Auntie a set of Nine Cold Diagrams, and Auntie rewarded us with a pair of pearl flowers. My sister even spent half a day playing rope with you. What happened?"

  Dong Zhao shook his head.

  The relationship between the two families is so close that Aunt wants to take her to play with her cousins, why did she bite Aunt?

  Back to the main courtyard, the maidservants who were serving in the house all stood under the veranda, saw Du Shuang and Zhao Bi Ru, smiled and respectfully came forward to pay their respects to Zhao Bi Ru, saying: "Miss Zhao please go to the side room to sit for a while, Auntie is talking to Madam!"

  Zhao Bihua looked at the window frame of the main house with a puzzled expression, and followed Huan Xiang to the side house in a gentle manner. However, Du Zhao ran into the inner room in a flash, just in time to hear her aunt say indignantly: "...... How dare they! If the Wang family dares to come, you don't have to say anything, lest you lower your dignity. I'll take care of it and reason with that Gao Shi!"

  Mother's voice still had a few sobs: "Sister, why bother! Making such a big fuss, it just gave those Wang family people something to talk about. No matter what, it's not worth the trouble."

  "Aunt sighed and said after a while: 'Sister is just too kind-hearted!'"

  Mother smiled and said, "Husband and wife are originally one body. He lost face, I also don't look good on my face. I understand sister-in-law's intention, please go back and don't tell brother - it's just taking a small concubine, do you still want to stir up my mother's family's brother to give the Dugu family a gold sticker?"

  "I know," said Auntie. "When the time comes, I'll come over quietly by myself."

  "Thank you, sister," said Mother. "I think it's better if this matter is kept quiet."

  Aunt nodded. On the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, he really came alone. When asked by Eldest Maternal Aunt, Aunt only said that Uncle wanted to close the door and read books, and Eldest Maternal Aunt did not ask much either. She took Aunt's hand and went to the Flower Hall to pay respects to Third Maternal Aunt, Fourth Maternal Aunt, Sixth Maternal Aunt and other relatives by marriage. They also set up two tables for playing cards and started gambling. The women of the Duan family were all busy at their respective tasks, some dealing cards and others looking at them, amidst laughter and conversation, it was very lively.

  Outside, only a few of Father's elder brothers were invited, everyone was chatting and drinking tea.

  The Wang family didn't come.

  The sedan chair carrying Wang Yingshu stopped directly in front of the flower hall. Wearing a pink rose-patterned embroidered jacket, Wang Yingshu was supported by several maids as she got out of the sedan and paid her respects to her mother with tea in the flower hall.

  Yu led Wang Yingshu to the Qixia Temple, where people in the flower hall were playing cards and chatting, until the third watch of the night before they gradually dispersed.

  Wang Yingxue let out a sigh of relief.

  Fu Wang Yingxue's maid pouted and said discontentedly, "Miss shouldn't have advised the eldest madam. Look at this, does it look like a wedding is being held?"

  "Nonsense." Wang Yingshu scolded the maid, frowning. "I'm someone's concubine, isn't that a glorious thing? When the first wife comes, it's just humiliation. Be more careful with your words in the future, if I hear you speaking out of turn again, I'll send you back to Nanwa immediately."

  The maid listened and immediately turned red-eyed, knelt down and said: "I will never dare again."

  Wang Yingshu was still a bit worried, repeatedly reminding the maid: "A person under another's roof must lower their head. You just honestly stay there for me, remember not to provoke trouble."

  The little maid nodded in agreement.

  Someone reported: "The Seventh Master has arrived!"

  Wang Yingxue's eyes lit up.

  Dòu Shìyīng walked in quickly.

  Wang Yingshu hastened forward and made a curtsy: "Seventh Aunt...do you know?"

  "I knew it!" Du Shiying smiled and said, "It was she who urged me to come over."

  Wang Yingshuo was somewhat excited: "Thank you, Seventh Granny, for saving my face. From now on, I will respect her as if she were my own elder sister."

  "Didn't you treat Gu Qiu as your own sister in the past?" Dou Shiying joked, "I've told you before, Gu Qiu is a very virtuous person."

  Wang Yingshu's smile faltered, and she said: "This matter is my fault, I owe Gu Qiu a lot, I'm afraid of bothering her. Although in my heart, I regard her as an elder sister, but I don't know if she regards me as a younger sister... Now it seems that I was overthinking, after all, I am not as broad-minded and magnanimous as Sister."

  Dong Shiying smiled with a pleased expression, looking as if he had gained some honor.

  Wang Yingshuai's eyes sank slightly, but she quickly regained her smile.

  Welcomed Zao Wang and swept away dust, it's already the 30th of the last month of the lunar year.

  Dong and Xi went back to Beilou Village together to worship their ancestors.

  Wang Yingshu followed Zhao Guqiu with her head down and eyes cast downward. When someone's gaze fell on Wang Yingshu, Dou Zhao, who was holding onto his mother's skirt, would sweetly call out "Auntie Wang". The crowd would suddenly realize and praise Wang Yingshu's good looks, and Yu Niang would explain beside them: "She is the daughter of the Wang family from Nanwa." Wang Yingshu's face turned bright red with embarrassment.

  Her mother scolded Yu Niang a few words, and from then on, whenever relatives asked about Wang Yingshuang, Yu Niang didn't say much.

  Dòu Zhāo only regretted being too young.

  Wang Yingshu looked at her mother with gratitude.

  The mother seemed oblivious and continued chatting with relatives in the clan.

  The news of Wang Yingxue's identity had already spread.

  During the Spring Festival, Wang Yingshu hid at home and was unwilling to go out to pay New Year's greetings to relatives: "They are all dignified grannies, I don't quite fit in."

  Yu's mother-in-law smiled and persuaded: "What is suitable or not? With Wang's wife by her side, she has a companion on the one hand, and someone to serve tea on the other."

  Wang Yingshu was extremely embarrassed, her father furrowed his brow and looked at her mother: "Is this what you meant?"

  Her mother nodded and took a sip of tea, saying lightly: "In that case, let Wang's wife stay at home. It would also avoid stirring up the fetus!"

  His father wanted to say something but stopped himself.

  Mother hugged Du Zhao out of the door.

  His father immediately followed him and said in a low voice: "You're just making fools of us in front of our relatives."

  "I know," said the mother expressionlessly. "When the child is born, should I tell our relatives that it's premature?"

  "You!" Father glared at him angrily.

  Mother has quickly boarded the carriage.

  The father stamped his foot and reluctantly got on the carriage after a while.

  Dong Zhaohui buried himself in the big welcoming pillow in the car, and let out a deep sigh.

  Mother's worry is still reasonable.

  Although this matter is trivial, it makes people feel annoyed.

  It's like having a flea on your body. If you ignore it, it will bite and make you itch all over. But if you treat it as a big deal, you can't say it out loud either.

  Didn't Father say he was going to send Wang Yingshuang to the Zhuangzi?

  After the New Year's holiday is over, I have to remind Father!

  Dong Zhaoyu was three years old this year.

  Her father, mother, Wang Yingshuang, grandfather, grandmother, Aunt Ding, aunt, and several aunts all gave her birthday gifts; her mother returned the gift with longevity noodles. The maids in the house kowtowed to her in the courtyard, and her mother rewarded each of them with five silver coins. They were overjoyed, even more so than during Chinese New Year.

  The Lantern Festival has ended, and the wind on my face no longer feels cold.

  The spring is gone.

  Dong Zhao said in his heart, "Mother is going to see her mother."

  "Didn't we see each other during Chinese New Year?"

  "It didn't come to anything." Du Zhao said, "During the ancestor worship, grandmother stood far away, during the New Year's Eve dinner, grandmother didn't say a word, and father asked me to keep watch with grandfather... On the first day of the new year, I went to pay my respects to grandmother, but she had already returned to the countryside."

  "Didn't she leave you some money for the New Year?" Her mother smiled and took a peach blossom from the crystal plate, pinning it to Du Zhao's hair bun. "What kind of idea are you getting now?"

  "No ghostly ideas." Du Zhao muttered to herself, but in her heart, she thought that after her grandmother's death, the fields and farms were left to her. She had arranged for capable people to manage them, and with great effort, they were able to harvest a good crop despite droughts and floods. This was one of the few things that brought her satisfaction.

  Although she was never sent to Tianzhuang in this life, she had a very deep affection for her grandmother and Tianzhuang.

  "In a few days, I'll take you there again." Mother saw that Du Zhao was not happy and said, "After the spring plowing is finished in each field, your father will go with the manager to inspect the fields. At that time, we'll go together with your father."

  Grandfather didn't like Grandmother, which wasn't a secret in the Dòu family. In order not to offend Grandfather, Mother and the people of the Dòu family chose to ignore Grandmother.

  Dou Zhaoyi thought of that kind-hearted woman and felt a pang in his heart.

  "Mom smiled and said: 'I'll take you to your uncle's house for a visit. We haven't been back to Anxiang for some time.'"

  Dong Zhao noticed that every time his mother mentioned her maiden home, she always liked to use the word "return", as if the Dong family was not her own. This seems to be a common problem for many women. However, this does not include Dong Zhao.

  After marrying into the Wei family, she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and her spirit was greatly improved, with a sense of pride and satisfaction.

  Maybe it's because I've never considered Duanjia as my maternal family?

  Dou Zhaos thought for a moment and went to Anxiang with her mother.

  In rural areas, there aren't so many rules.

  Aunt received the letter and led two cousins at the gate waiting for them.

  Big sister Zhao Bi Ru has already met, second sister Zhao Xuan Ru, this year nine years old, third sister Zhao Zhuo Ru, this year five years old. They all look alike, but Zhao Xuan Ru is shy and Zhao Zhuo Ru is lively, as soon as she sees Diao Zhao, she pulls her to run into the house: "Peng Hua Hua fried sugar chestnuts, mother said to wait for you to eat together!"

  Dong Zhao was pulled by her and stumbled a bit, and had no choice but to follow her running inside.

  The girl hastily followed him.

  Everyone burst into loud laughter as they entered the gate.

  The Zhao family's house is at the head of the village. After entering through the black-lacquered copper ring gate, to the left is a horse enclosure and to the right is a thatched shed storing carts and furniture. The two side rooms are occupied by several long-term workers. Upon entering the second gate, one faces a five-roomed blue-brick tile-roofed house with three-roomed side houses on either side. White Korean paper is pasted on the window frames. Next to the steps stands an old locust tree as thick as a man's embrace. The whole place is clean and tidy, spacious and elegant.

  Mother and aunt just entered the house, Zhao Zhanru pulled Peng Yiyang's sleeve to enter with sugar-fried chestnuts, and turned back to urge Dou Zhao: "Hurry up! Chestnuts are not good to eat when they cool down."

  Everyone burst out laughing again.

  Finally settled down, Zhao Bihua and Zhao Xuanru were peeling chestnuts for Du Shao and Zhao Zhenru with a somewhat sisterly demeanor.

  Mother and aunt sat on the kang and said: "Calculating the days, shouldn't big brother have entered the arena already?"

  "Hmm!" Aunt was a bit worried, "If we don't hit it this time, we'll have to wait another three years."

  Mother listened and murmured: "I heard Yu Daqing say that sister sold ten acres of good land a few days ago..."

  Aunt's face turned red, and she said in a low voice: "It was borrowed last year, I didn't dare to tell your brother. Your brother went to Kyoto and sold the field, making up for the previous loss..." She quickly added, "Don't worry, sister. I still have some dowry, but it's all on the account book, I'm afraid if your brother knows, he won't be happy, so I didn't dare touch it."

  ※

  Tomorrow I have to go back to work again...~~~~(sigh)~~~~

  ※